The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-07-07
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.


On Wednesday evening, June 29th,
| meeting of Mystic Lodge, K. of P, was
| held, at which Bro. T. j. Crowley of SaI
| Francisco was present. After the usua
| business had been transacted, Bro. Crow
! ley was presented with a beautiful golC
mounted cocoanut cane, with monogram
and the following inscription: Presented
to Brother T. J. Crowley by Mystic Lodge
No. 2 K. of P. Honolulu, June %, 1897
The presentation was made by Past
Chancellor John A Messenger in the fol.
lowing speech: Chancellor Commander
So much has been said and done tonight
relating to the Good of the Order that
there would seem little more to add, but it
is fitting that We should express our APP
probation of the flattering approval of our
work, and the kind words of encourage
ment spoken by our brother, the visiting
Grand officer from California.
Working under the jurisdiction of the
Supreme Body at Washington, we labor
under the disadvantage of being far away
from our parent body; nor do we have the
benefit of frequent intercourse and cOnse-
ouent improvement such as are enjoyed
by the lodges of our neighboring juristlic-
ton, and our opportunities OF instruction
are few and far between.
Tonight we are particularly favored.
For the first time In the history of our
lodge we have the pleasure of welcoming
together officially two officers of high rank,
our d. s, Chancellor Bro. D. Dayton and
D. D. G. Chancellor Bro. T. j. Crowley of
&c
golden opportunity, and we would fain I'M
prove it. We would also desire to mark
in some special manner this occasion so
that the memory of it may abide with
our visiting brother and be a source
of kindly recollection in after days.
Therefore Brother Crowley, the brethren
of Mystic Lodge have intrusted to me the
peasant duty of presenting to you this
staff or cane of cocoanut wood, ornamented
and mounted in gold. lntrinsically it has
a value, but it has values otherwise. Val
liable because of the spirit in which it is
given, and in which we feel assured it will
be accepted We would desire to clothe it
with a symbolic value, aside from the de-
vices engraved upon it. The palm from
which this cane is made is a t'-nical tree of
the Pacific islands. Thrivi, It along
the low, wave-swept sands of the beach, its
fruit is carried by ocean currents from ISL
and to island, from reef to reef, where,
taking root, it in turn becomes treasure
of inestimable value to the native inhabi-
tants. furnishing from its fruit both food
and drink from its broad leaves an endur-
ing thatch for walls and roof of house. Its
~ FRO, raadxy fOr
the thatch, and from its fiber is made the
cords and ropes used for rigging, fishing
and numerous purposes.
It's slender shaft towering far above the
beach, endowed with the power of with
standing the shock of storms that sweep
the ocean, and crowned with its hammered
tuft of waving leaves, hath oft proved the
harbinger of salvation to poor shipwrecked
mariners adrift in boat or on raft, when
nought of land could be seen and hope had
near given place to despair.
May this staff symbolic that the Pythian
Knighthood of these Isles, with their ban
ners held aloft on the walls of their Castle
Halls, welcome with open hands all worthy
Pilgrim Knights whom chance or pleasure
NAV drift westward from yonder golden
shores of the Occident. 1t is ornamented
with pure gold, denoting that the prin-
cipIes upon which this Order of knight
hood are founded are pure ones, and its
motives the most sincere. Having these
principles in view, we endeaVor to exem-
pity them by practical tests, and if by
unity of labor and good fellowship we are
enabled to carry out our object, and
like pure gold when submitted to the test,
shall not be found wanting, then we will
feel that our mission has not been in vain.
aETake therefore this staff, and with it the
best wishes of the Brotherhood here as
sembled for the prosperity of yourself and
all that are dear to you. May you be
blessed with length of years. and when IN
the after days you lean upon this cane for
comfort and support, may you feel that
the friendly sentiments now expressed
still linger around this token from your
brethren in the distant isles of the sea.
For the friendship, the charity, the
benevolence of Pythian Knighthood are
not matters of an hour or day, but they
endure until time itself shall cease.
Drc Crowley VINO was evidently taae1
by surprise, rece Ted the cane with -
pressions OF gratitude, and thansed the
brsthren In few appropriate remarks